The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

This uneven anthology proves less edgy than billed, but fans of paranormal romance will find much to like and several promising new authors to follow.

Among the standouts is Kitty Keswick’s “Death Becomes Her,” a Cinderella story featuring a haunted dress and satisfying surprise ending. In “The Secret Box,” Jill Williamson brings a fascinating era to life in her tale of a 13th-century crusader king obsessed with an Egyptian box and the secret it contains. Candace Haven’s “The Cold One” introduces Norse paganism in a Finnish setting as a girl struggles with her non-negotiable appointment as guardian of Viking treasure. Equally strong on atmosphere is Carmen Tudor’s “The Oast House,” where an unhappy teen finds solace in befriending the girl he discovers living in a derelict brewery. Loneliness also drives the unnamed heroine of Maria V. Snyder’s “New Girl” to accept overtures of friendship from an unsnubbable boy who approaches her in the school library. “To Hel and Back,” by Shannon Delany, author of the 13 to Life series, is a far-future, cyborg-human love story; though awkwardly executed and lacking the powerhouse originality of a writer like Margo Lanagan, it’s vivid and original. Proceeds from book sales benefit the nonprofit youth literacy organization 826 National.

Be the first to discover new talent!
Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our Pro Connect email alert.
Sign up here to receive your FREE alerts.